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(S//SI) 'Focused Pursuits' Hunt Down SIGINT Targets
FROM:
Deputy Chief, Pursuit Operations Staff (S31104)
Run Date: 10/24/2005
(S//SI) Is your SIGINT target elusive? ...Are you entering uncharted collection territory? A
"Focused Pursuit" may be able to help. A "Focused Pursuit" is a planned effort to hunt for a
specific target of interest to get needed intelligence. The target that has or conveys the
information we want provides the "focus." The "pursuit" is what the Focused Pursuit Lead,
typically from the Pursuit Operations Staff, spearheads.
(S//SI) The Focused Pursuit Lead runs the effort and enhances coordination -- it is like Project
Management for hunting targets. The Lead brings the knowledgeable individuals, organizations,
capabilities, and services of the SIGINT system together to hunt for the target of interest.
(S//SI) Focused Pursuits start with an intelligence question. For example, is Iran planning to put
a nuclear warhead on a missile? The Pursuit then targets the individuals who are communicating
the information we want.
(S//SI) The Focused Pursuit Lead establishes a pursuit working group of contributing members
from the extended enterprise, and partners as needed. They:
build and write a pursuit plan with specific activities;
track execution of the planned activities; and
document an assessment at the end of each pursuit iteration cycle (Gather Target
Knowledge/Identify Gaps; Plan; Execute; Assess).
(S//SI) Typically, a pursuit iteration cycle runs from 90-120 days. The Focused Pursuit
continues, perhaps through several iterations, until the goals are achieved or customer priorities
change.
(S//SI) Additionally, the Pursuit Operations Staff forward-deploys SIGINT Development support
personnel to Office of Target Pursuit (S311) Target Branches in order to improve situational
awareness on targets and increase our ability to discover new leads, sources of information, and
detect and report changes in target communications. The Pursuit Operations Staff offers project
leadership, a diverse skill set, and its unique position within Data Acquisition to create and/or
facilitate solutions and drive implementation.
(U//FOUO) For additional information, please type " go S31104 " in your browser to learn more,
or to submit Focused Pursuit requirements. Please feel free to contact OTP's Pursuit Director,
and/or Deputy Pursuit Director,
(
) with any questions you might have.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108